January 18, 2017 1:25pm ESTJanuary 18, 2017 1:17pm ESTThe tournament kicks off on Wednesday as hosts Colombia take on Paraguay, and Goal has identified the top talents who will take the continent by stormBentancur, Ascacibar and the youngsters to watch in the South American Under-20 Championship

Daniel Edwards

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Giovanni Simeone Argentina Under-20

Diego Simeone's son Gio was one of the stars of the last South American Under-20 Championship as the young striker finished top scorer with nine goals to lead Argentina to the title. But who will emerge as 2017's wonderkid? Here are some of the picks ahead of the Under-20s' kick-off on Wednesday...

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Santiago Ascacibar Argentina U20

SANTIAGO ASCACIBAR | ARGENTINA | CENTRE-MIDFIELD | There may not be much physical resemblance, but everything about the Estudiantes youngster's game screams a young Javier Mascherano. Uncompromising in the challenge and smart with his distribution, Ascacibar has already been tipped to challenge Matias Kranevitter for Masche's spot in the engine room once the Barcelona star hangs up his boots.

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Lautaro Martinez Racing

LAUTARO MARTINEZ | ARGENTINA | FORWARD | As mentors go, Racing's wonderkid got very lucky indeed! Martinez has come under the wing of both Diego Milito and Lisandro Lopez at the Argentine club, and has slowly etched out a place in the first team by virtue of his excellent touch and keen eye for the net.

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Richarlison Fluminense

RICHARLISON | BRAZIL | FORWARD | With no Neymar, Gabigol or Gabriel Jesus around this time, the Olympic champions will be looking towards a new generation of striking talent led by Fluminense's promising centre-forward. Richarlison combines a punishing change of pace with the strength to hold off markers, making him an extremely dangerous prospect in Colombia.

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Caio Henrique

CAIO HENRIQUE | BRAZIL | CENTRE-MIDFIELD | Along with Uruguay's Nicolas Schiappacasse, another of the continent's big promises that has already been snapped up by Diego Simeone at Atletico. Caio, 19, is a classic defensive midfielder who is more than adept at playing his way out of trouble, spurring Brazil on from deep.

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Jeisson Vargas

JEISSON VARGAS | CHILE | FORWARD | At 19 the diminutive poacher is one of a select group of championship participants to have already been capped by his nation. Jeisson, whose contract belongs to Bologna, has struggled for his best form on loan at Argentina's Estudiantes this season, but his quality is undeniable.

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Kevin Balanta Galería

KEVIN BALANTA | COLOMBIA | CENTRE-MIDFIELD | The physical midfielder is the heart and soul of the Colombia team, as the hosts looked to lift the 2017 trophy. A key performer for Deportivo Cali even at 19, Balanta's immense stamina and physical presence will be vital on home soil.

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Bryan Cabezas

BRYAN CABEZAS | ECUADOR | FORWARD | Placed in 2017's Group of Death alongside Brazil, Chile and Colombia, it will be no mean feat for Ecuador to make the final stage. But their young striker Cabezas is used to making fairytales, having led Independiente del Valle to within a whisker of the Libertadores crown in 2016.

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Blas Riveros

BLAS RIVEROS | PARAGUAY | LEFT-BACK | While the likes of Oscar and Angel Romero, Miguel Almiron and Derlis Gonzalez give the Guarani a great amount of talent in the final third, their abject Copa America showing proved much work is still to be done at the back. At 18 Riveros is already a full international, and his impressive technical abilities mark him out as a future star both with his nation and at current club Basel.

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Rodrigo Amaral

RODRIGO AMARAL | URUGUAY | FORWARD | Diego Forlan's position in the hole just behind the attack has lay almost vacant since the great's retirement, but in Amaral the Celeste might just have the man to fill it. The 19-year-old is a regular for Nacional, where his mazy dribbling and vicious shot are making him an idol of the Bolso support.

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Rodrigo Bentancur Boca Juniors

RODRIGO BENTANCUR | URUGUAY | CENTRE-MIDFIELD | One of the most recognised names in this year's competition due to his agreed move to Juventus, Bentancur will form the heart of the Celeste midfield as they attempt to escape from Group A and into the final stage.

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Nicolas Schiappacasse

NICOLAS SCHIAPPACASSE | URUGUAY | FORWARD | Diego Simeone knows talent when he sees it, so when the Atletico Madrid boss takes a gamble on a teenage Uruguayan star it is likely he will be worth the risk. Schiappacasse joined the Liga giants in 2016 at the tender age of 17, and the rapid, tenacious winger has already trained with the first-team squad on a handful of occasions.